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All posts for the month August, 2017

It has been a while since my last post on either the 2013 Suzuki SFV650 or the 1981 Suzuki GS650L. I was going to post on the coolant and brake fluid flush on the SFV650 and the ongoing tear down of the GS650L engine, but none of that sounds very glamorous at this point when you have traded in the SFV650 for a 2016 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Touring bike.

You can tell from my previous posts that this really wasn’t the plan. I had just put new tires, added a Givi top case, and another windscreen on the SFV650…

I had mentioned to a co-worker earlier in the year that I was interested in the new Ducati Multistrada 950 that was just coming out, but that I wouldn’t do anything until the fall at the earliest. He then stops by my desk a few weeks ago to let me know that the Ducati dealer in NH is have a demo ride weekend from Friday thru Sunday. I called them first thing Saturday morning to see if I could sign up to ride the 950 on Sunday so that I wouldn’t drive all the way there and then not be able to ride the bike. I didn’t get through to them until 4 PM on Saturday and was able to sign -up to ride the 950. They then indicated that the 1200 was available to ride in the next hour if I wanted. Why not?

I did ride both and liked both right from the start. The kicker was that they were offering this 2016 1200 with the factory installed touring package (heated grips, center stand, and 58L side panniers) for the same price as the 2017 950 with no packages included. It was impossible to say no to the 2016 1200.

Going in to this, I would have picked the Urban package which was the 48L top case, a tank bag, and USB port since I need the larger top case to carry my laptop and other commuting supplies. The Ducati panniers and top case are Ducati badged Givi units (both Italian companies). I decided to move my recently installed Givi top case to the new bike and have a complete touring/commuting setup. The next step was to find an adapter to mount the case that was not the $750 Ducati option that came with their top case.

I had just used SW-Motech for the Suzuki SFV650 adapter plate and Givi also had an option, but they had not updated the brackets for the 2015-2017 grab handles. The adapter that worked out was the Dynamic Motorcycle Accessories Long Luggage Top Case Mount that included mounting hardware for the Givi Monokey top cases. It was a very simple installation and very clean install for the top case. The Dynamic Accessories also has an optional backrest. The backrest can’t be used at the same time as the top case being mounted, but will provide additional options for passenger comfort.

It is basically a set of 4 machined plastic blocks that are shaped to fit the grab handles that attach the mounting plate to the bike.

The bike did come with an additional lock tumbler to match the two pannier locks and the seat lock. I was hoping that the tumblers would be interchangeable since both are made by Givi. In the Givi top case you access the lock tumbler by removing two Phillips head screws from the inside of the case and then the full lock mechanism comes off of the top case and the lock cylinder can be easily removed. Unfortunately the Ducati lock cylinder was longer and a bit wider than the Givi version and could not be swapped. Not a big deal that the lock could not be swapped out. The Ducati has a remote key FOB, so no need to have a bunch of keys dangling around as you are riding. everything is tucked away in a pocket.

Although the keys are very similar in dimension.

All in all, very satisfied with the new bike. Hoping for plenty of good riding weather to come.